Yalanji Arts - Art Collector

Kuku Yalanji country encompasses rainforest and ocean environments in a richly diverse area stretching between Cooktown, Chiilagoe and Port Douglas. A deep connection with nature informs and celebrates all aspects of Yalanji culture. Mossman Gorge is an urbanised community located 75 kilometers north of Cairns, serviced by the townships of Mossman and Port Douglas. The mission of Yalanji Arts is to nurture and develop Indigenous artists, to showcase Yalanji culture and to generate growth in individuals and the community as a whole. While acknowledging that their work is informed by traditional culture and the environment, artists are encouraged to push their understanding and technical skills to develop a contemporary and expressive approach to visually articulating their ideas.

As most of the artists are young and emerging, the focus is on exploration and experimentation. With the benefit of ongoing training from skilled creative professionals, artists are gaining an understanding of printmaking, textiles and fashion, wood carving and jewellery. Through regular open review sessions of their work, participation in the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and galleries in the Cairns region, artists are developing a capacity to critically analyse their own work and that of their peers.

In partnership with Bamanga Bubu Ngadimunku Incorporated, Yalanji Arts provides support and advocacy for local artists, aiding their development through ongoing training and marketing of their work to regional and national galleries. Mossman Gorge Centre, located at the edge of the community, presents ongoing exposure for Yalanji artists to national and international tourists and collectors.